How to Win-Win an Argument

When things get heated in a discussion, often the main problem is that both parties feel that they are not being heard, or that their views are acknowledged. There are many reasons for this, as author Liane Davey points out in ‘When an Argument Gets Too Heated, Here’s What to Say‘ on HBR.org.

It’s important to give the other person ‘visibility’ in the room, even if their views are radically different from yours. The first step is to repeat what they are saying, possibly with a slight change of words, so that they know that you ‘get’ them. From then on, it’s a case of constantly mirroring and using eye contact to bring the discussion onto a more rational course.